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United States Patent |
5,143,760
|
Mistopoulos
|
September 1, 1992
|
Extruded molding with desired contoured formation
Abstract
A molding for attachment to an automotive vehicle includes an extrusion
member extending longitudinally. An insert is attached to the extrusion
member and is adapted to be connected to a source of electrical power to
heat the insert and extrusion member in a local area to form the local
area to predetermined contour.
Inventors:
|
Mistopoulos; James E. (Dearborn Heights, MI)
|
Assignee:
|
The Standard Products Company (Cleveland, OH)
|
Appl. No.:
|
544337 |
Filed:
|
June 27, 1990 |
Current U.S. Class: |
428/31; 156/244.17; 156/244.18; 156/273.9; 293/128 |
Intern'l Class: |
B60R 013/04 |
Field of Search: |
428/31
156/244.17,244.18,273.9
293/128
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
2570935 | Oct., 1946 | Freedlander | 264/22.
|
3491186 | Jan., 1970 | Rainar | 264/295.
|
3711360 | Jan., 1973 | Kent | 428/31.
|
3982780 | Sep., 1976 | Keith | 428/31.
|
4064206 | Dec., 1977 | Seufert | 264/295.
|
4364789 | Dec., 1982 | Moran | 428/31.
|
4397896 | Aug., 1983 | Moran | 428/31.
|
4412960 | Nov., 1983 | Goldman et al. | 264/22.
|
4786094 | Nov., 1988 | Barton et al. | 293/128.
|
4830892 | May., 1989 | Nussbaum | 428/31.
|
Primary Examiner: Epstein; Henry F.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Harness, Dickey & Pierce
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A molding for attachment to an automotive vehicle, comprising:
an extrusion member extending longitudinally and having a longitudinally
extending groove; and
a flexible, electrically conductive insert in only a local area of said
extrusion, said insert having a longitudinal length disposed in said
groove, each end of said length having a tab extending laterally therefrom
and adapted to be connected to a source of electrical power to heat said
insert and extrusion member in said local area to facilitate forming the
local area to a predetermined contour.
2. A molding as set forth in claim 1 wherein said insert is made of a metal
material.
3. A molding as set forth in claim 2 wherein said insert is made of
aluminum.
4. A molding as set forth in claim 1 wherein said extrusion member is made
of a plastic material.
5. A molding as set forth in claim 4 wherein said extrusion member is made
of a flexible polyvinyl chloride material.
6. A molding as set forth in claim 1 wherein a vinyl primer is applied to
both sides of said insert prior to being disposed in said slit.
7. A molding for attachment to an automotive vehicle, comprising:
an extrusion member extending longitudinally including means forming a slit
therein and extending partially therealong; and
a metallic insert having a horizontal portion adapted to be disposed in
said slit and a tab extending outwardly substantially perpendicular from
each end of said horizontal portion and adapted to be connected to a
source of electrical power to heat said insert and said extrusion member
in a local area to form the local area to a predetermined contour.
8. A method of making a molding for attachment to an automotive vehicle,
said method comprising the steps of:
forming an extrusion member to extend longitudinally;
forming a longitudinally extending slit in a local area of said extrusion
member;
attaching an electrically conductive flexible insert to the extrusion
member in said slit;
connecting the insert to a source of electrical power;
heating the insert and said local area of the extrusion member; and
forming the local area of the extrusion member to a predetermined contour.
9. A method as set forth in claim 8 wherein said insert is made of metal
material.
10. A method as set forth in claim 9 including the step of applying a
primer to both sides of the insert and disposing the insert in the slit.
11. A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein said metal material is
aluminum.
12. A method as set forth in claim 11 wherein said extrusion member is made
of a flexible polyvinylchloride material.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to moldings for automotive
vehicles, and more particularly to, an extrusion molding formed locally to
a desired design contour for an automotive vehicle.
2. Description of Related Art
Molding for automotive vehicles are commonly used, for example, as body
side moldings to protect the sides of vehicles from nicks, scatches and
dents, of the type inflicted in parking lots by the careless. Moldings are
also used as fascia trim and can serve aesthetic purposes to enhance the
lines of the vehicle. The trim moldings are generally extruded from a
plastic material such as vinyl.
One disadvantage of the above moldings is that they are typically formed as
straight sections. This does not allow the moldings to accurately follow
an arcuate contour. Another disadvantage is that arcuately shaped moldings
are generally formed by conventional injection molding. This results in
additional time and expense to form arcuate moldings as opposed to
straight or linear moldings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide a molding
with a desired or predetermined contour for an automotive vehicle.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a molding which
can be formed locally to a desired design contour.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an arcuately
shaped molding which is formed in less time and with less expense than by
conventional injection molding.
To achieve the foregoing objects, the present invention is a molding for
attachment to a side of an automotive vehicle. The molding includes an
extrusion member extending longitudinally and an insert attached to the
extrusion member and is adapted to be connected to a source of electrical
power to heat the insert in a local area to form the local area to
predetermined contour.
The present invention is also a method of making a molding for attachment
to an automotive vehicle. The method includes the steps of forming an
extrusion member to extend longitudinally and attaching an insert to the
extrusion member. The method further includes connecting the insert to a
source of electrical power, heating the insert and a local area of the
extrusion member, and forming the local area of the extrusion member to a
predetermined contour.
One advantage of the present invention is that the molding is extruded as a
straight section and formed locally to a desired design contour. Another
advantage of the present invention is that conventional injection molding
is eliminated to form arcuately shaped moldings. A further advantage of
the present invention is that less time and expense is involved in forming
a molding to an arcuate shape or desired contour.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be
readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reading the
following description in light of the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1A is a side elevation view of a portion of an automotive vehicle
incorporating a molding according to the present invention.
FIG. 1B is a front elevation view of an automotive vehicle incorporating a
molding according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the molding of FIG. 1 prior to formation.
FIG. 3 is a front view of an insert for the molding of FIGS. 1 and 2.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the molding of FIG. 2 after formation.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, an automotive vehicle 10 including a molding
12 according to the present invention is shown. As illustrated in FIG. 1A,
the molding 12 is a trim or body side molding secured to the outer surface
14 of fender and/or door panels of the automotive vehicle 10 generally in
the position shown. Although the molding 12 has been illustrated as a
protective body side molding for the vehicle, it will be appreciated that
the present invention can be employed in molding strips for other
purposes. For example, the molding 12 may be used as an insert for a
bumper 15 as illustrated in FIG. 1B.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the molding 12 includes an extrusion member 16
which extends generally longitudinally in a plane. Preferably, the
extrusion member 16 is made of a polyvinyl plastic material such as a
flexible polyvinyl chloride material. The molding 12 also includes an
insert, generally indicated at 18. Preferably, the insert 18 is made of a
metal material such as aluminum having a thickness to allow the insert 18
to be flexible. The insert 18 has a horizontal portion 20 with tabs 22 at
each end extending outwardly substantially perpendicular to the horizontal
portion 20. The horizontal portion 20 is disposed in a groove or slit 24
formed in one side of the extrusion member 16 and extending longitudinally
partially therealong. The slit 24 is formed with a steel rule die when the
extrusion member 16 is in the straight formation to allow the insert 18 to
be placed in the extrusion member 16. A material such as a vinyl primer is
applied to both sides of the insert 18 prior to inserting the insert 18
into the slit 24 of the extrusion member 16.
In operation, referring to FIG. 4, a power source 26 having electrodes 28
are electrically connected to the tabs 22 at both ends of the insert 18.
Electrical current flows from the power source 26 and through the
electrodes 28 and insert 18. The insert 18 acts as a resistor and conducts
heat. This limits the melting point temperature of the vinyl material for
the extrusion member 16 to the bonding surfaces of the insert 18. The
insert 18 heats up and activates chemical bonding between the insert 18
and extrusion member 16 due to the adhesive action of the vinyl primer.
The heated extrusion member 16 is pliable in the area of the insert 18. As
a result, the extrusion member 16 may be formed or shaped locally in the
heated area of the insert 18 to a desired or predetermined contour using a
fixture apparatus (not shown) to hold its desired contour position. After
bonding of the insert 18 to the extrusion member 16, the molding 12 is
cooled to room temperature prior to removing the contoured molding 10 from
the contoured fixture. The tabs 22 are then removed from the insert 18 by
means such as cutting.
A method of making a contoured molding according to the present invention
is also provided. The method includes forming an extrusion member 16 as a
straight or linear member and forming a slit 24 in the extrusion member 16
with a steel rule die in the portion that will have a local contour. The
method also includes applying a vinyl primer to both sides of the insert
18 and placing or disposing the insert 18 into the slit 24 of the straight
extrusion member 16 as illustrated in FIG. 2. The method further includes
applying electricity from a power source 26 to the tabs 22 and heating the
isert 18. The method includes bonding the insert 18 to the extrusion
member 16 and heating the extrusion member 16 until pliable. The method
also includes forming the straight extrusion member 16 locally to the
desired contour using a fixture apparatus to hold its desired contour
position. The method includes cooling the molding 12 and removing the tabs
22.
Accordingly, the present invention allows a vinyl extrusion to be formed
locally to a desired design contour by heating the stamped aluminum insert
(with vinyl primer on both sides) with electricity by using the insert as
a resistor. The extruded vinyl section holds its desired contour position,
resulting in no surface color distortion, no mylar crazing and no material
delamination.
The present invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is
to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to
be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation.
Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in
light of the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of the appended
claims, the present invention may be practiced otherwise than as
specifically described.
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